N.S. v. Her Majesty the Queen, et al.

N.S. v. Her Majesty the Queen, et al.

N.S. v. Her Majesty the Queen, et al. ( December 8, 2011)
Case #33989

A Muslim woman wants to wear her face-covering niqab when she testifies in court against an uncle and a cousin she accuses of sexually assaulting her. The assaults were alleged to have taken place between 1982, when the victim was six years old, and 1987. The complainant N.S. did not report the abuse until 2007.

A preliminary inquiry judge ordered N.S. to remove her niqab before testifying, but an Ontario Superior Court judge later quashed that order. Lawyers for the accused argue that they should be able to see the facial expressions of N.S. for the purpose of cross-examination.